Bearing box



May 12, 1931. c BRQWN 1,805,325

BEARING BOX Filed March 12, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j zzz'el 6i B706 2,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 1931. D. 0. BROWN 1,805,325

BEARING BOX Filed March 12, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O W a INVENTO I ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1931 l,8tl5,325

BEARING BOX Application filed March 12, 1930. Serial No. 435,259.

This invention relates to improvements in bearing boxes for the axles of railway cars and more particularly to an improvement on the bearing box illustrated and described in my copending application, filed September 80, 1929, Ser. No. 396,215 and, as 1n themstance of the bearing box of my said application, the present invention contemplates a bearing box to which access may be had with convenience in replacing the roller hearings or the packing or in making any other rep airs.

The bearing box of the present invention is provided with a cap which is readily removable so that access may be had to the inter or of the box proper and likewise into the interior of the cap without the necessity of removing the wheel from the axis or displacing or removing the body of the box, and the primary object ofthe present invention 15 to 4 provide a novel means for efiectually preventing any displacement of the cap with respect to the body of the box.

Another object of the invention is to so conr struct the means for preventing displacement of the cap with respect to the body of the box thatit will require no bolts or keys nor the drilling of any holes for the reception of such securing elements, likewise avoiding the expense expended to their replacement when they become corroded or rusted.

A further object'of the invention is to provide a bearing box ofthe class referred to above, in which the means for holding the cap in place upon the body of the box will be of such construction that, by the mere sub- .jstitution of one form of cap for another, at the time of installing the bearing box, the bearing box may be adapted for application 0 to the car axle either outwardly with respect to the car wheel or inwardly with respect thereto, thus adapting the invention to be employed-upon difierent types of cars.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, it being so understood that minor changes may be made so long as they fall within the scope of the claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure l is a view in side elevation of the bearing box embodying the present invention, the box being of the type in which the cap adapts the box for application to the axle inwardly with respect to the car wheel, the axle being shown in section. a

Figure 2 is a detail vertical sectional view through that form of the invention in which the bearing box is located inwardly of the wheel, upon the axle.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical sectional View through the cap designed for use in connection with the box when adapted for application to the end of a car axle and outwardly with respect to the wheel.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the cap shown in Figure 8.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the cap shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Figure 6 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section illustrating the body of the box.

Figure 7 is a view inside elevation of the body of the box.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating the box of the embodiment which is applicable to the end of a car axle and outwardly of the wheel.

In the embodimentof the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the body of the box is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and is, as usual, of cast iron, being closed at its inner end which is presented toward the side of the respective car wheel, indicated by the numeral 2 and being provided in its closed end with an opening 3 of a diameter equal to that of the axle and upon which the wheel is mounted. The box is open at its other end and the said box is cylindrical in form.

At its said open end, the box is formed with a eemi annular flange t, the length of which is equal to substantially one half of the circumference of the open end of the box and this flange is formed in its inner peripheral surface with a groove 5 which extends from end to end thereof. The bearings for the axle are indicated in general by the numeral 6 andare, as usual, mounted in the body 1 of the box.

The cap of the box is indicated in general by the numeral 7 and the same is likewise of cast iron and comprises a circumferential wall 8 and is closed at its inwardly presented side except that it is formed in its said side with an opening 9 which is of a diameter to accommodate the axle upon which the wheel 2.is mounted. At one point in its circumference, the cap is formed with an enlargement or boss 10 provided with an opening 11 which extends at an angle to the axis of the cap and this opening has its outer end presented upwardly and constitutes an opening through which lubricant may be introduced into the box. The cap is further formed with a circumferential flange 12 which is of such diameter as to seat, for one half its ClICU111 ference in the groove 5, when the head is assembled with the body of the box, a packing strip 13 being disposed within the bottom of the groove 5 so as to prevent the escape of lubricant from the box. It will be evident, at this point, that so long as the flange 12 is seated in the groove 5, the flange and groove being of equal length, the cap is held in place at its open side against the inner open side or end of the box 1. It will be evident at this point that by rotatably adjusting the cap 7 so as to cause its flange 12 to leave the groove 5, the cap may be slid along the axle so as to permit of access being gained to the bearings 6. However, means is provided, in accordance with the present invention, for pre' venting such rotative movement of the cap as will now be described.

The means referred to above comprises a head 14 which is preferably of cast metal and of oblong rectangular form, and, for a purpose to be presently explained, this head is formed, upon its under side, at one longitudinal edge with a depending flange 15 the loweredge of which is of arcuate form as in dicated by the numeral 16. Depending flat sided lugs or flanges, indicated by the numer al 17, are cast integrally with the under side of the head 1 1 inwardly. of the ends thereof and also integral with the ends of the flange 16 and these lugs have inwardly projecting lower ends 18 which project at right angles therefrom and, when the member comprising the head 14 is assembled with the body of the box, will have their extremities located relatively close to the opposite sides of the .box. The said end portions likewise project below and in spaced relation to horizontally disposed. and laterally outstanding flanges 19 which are castnpon the outer side of the body of the box. A slot 20 is formed transversely in the head 14 immediately in rear of the flange 15, at the time of molding the said head, and a lug 21 is cast upon the upper side of the body of the box near the open inner end thereof and, when the head is fitted in place projects upwardly through the said slot 20 and is provided with an opening 22 through which a cotter pin or the like (not shown) may be fitted for the purpose of preventing upward displacement of the head 11 with respect to the box body 1. It will be evident from the foregoing that should there be any tendency for the cap 7 to rotate with respect to the head 1 1, this movement will be arrested by the engagement of shoulders (1 provided upon the flange 12 for contact with the inwardly projecting ends 18 of the flanges 17.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 3, 4c and 8 of the drawings, the structure is identical with vthat above described except as regards the structure ,of the cap for the opened end of the bearing box and therefore parts shown in these figures and corresponding to the parts shown in the figures previously described are indicated by the same reference numerals Primed.

In this embodiment of the invention, the box 1 is fitted onto the outer end of a car axle and outwardly with respect to a wheel 2 mounted upon said axle and in this embodiment, the cap 7, instead of being provided with an end which is closed except for the opening 9, referred to above, is completely closed as indicated by the numeral 23 inasmuch as this closed end 23 will be located, as shown in Figure 8, in spaced relation to and outwardly beyond the end of the axle.

1Vhat I claim is 1. A hearing box comprising a body for housing the axle end and the bearings there for, the body being open at one end and provided at its said end with a flange extending about substantially the lower half of the said end and provided with a groove, in its inner side, extending longitudinally thereof, a cap for closing said end of the body having an outstanding semi-circular'flange to seat within the said groove and hold said cap in closed position in one position of rotation of the cap, rotation of the cap to the reverse position permitting of direct removal of the cap from the body, a head disposed above the body, means upon the head in proximity to the ends of the flange to prevent rotative displacement ofthe cap with respect to the body.

2. A hearing box comprising a body for housing the axle end and the bearings therefor, the body being open at one end and provided at its said end with a flange extending about substantially the lower half of the said end and providedwith a groove, inits inner side, extending longitudinally thereof, acap for closing saidend of the body having an outstanding semi-circular flange to seat within the said groove and hold said cap in closed position in one position of rotation of the cap, rotation of the cap to the reverse position permitting of direct removal of the cap from the body, means removably mounted upon the body for preventing rotation of the cap with respect to the body, a lug upstanding from the upper side of the body, a head having a flange depending therefrom and engageable with the upper side of the body, the head having a slot therein through which the lug projects, at its upper end, the lug having an opening for the securing element whereby to prevent upward displacement of the head with respect to the bearing box body, and abutment members upon the head at op- Eosite sides of the said body and engageable y the ends of the flange upon the cap in any rotative displacement of the cap with respect to the body.

In testimony-whereof I affix my si ature.

DANIEL CLYDE BR WN. 

